Aleksey> Hi.  I'm looking for a way to automatically generate a graph
Aleksey> from a nested list.

Have you looked at 'graphviz' by any chance?  Or if you're wedded to
the circular graph with centers, maybe you could hack the ruby code in
'philesight' to do what you want?  

Aleksey> For example, here is a list:

Aleksey> 1
Aleksey>     2
Aleksey>     3
Aleksey> 4
Aleksey>     5
Aleksey>     6
Aleksey>     7

Your data format leaves alot to be desired.  *grin*  I'd put some
grouping elements around things to make it easier to parse.  

Aleksey> And here is the graph:

Aleksey> http://www.verticalsysadmin.com/crude_drawing.png

Wow, really crude.  *grin*

Aleksey> I want the top level elements closest to the center of the
Aleksey> circle, and I want the sub-elements removed from the circle,
Aleksey> but I want the graph to show the relationship between
Aleksey> elements and their children.

So you want a defined number of circles visible at any one time, which
from what I can find is called a "Radial Tree Chart" or Multilevel Pie
Chart.  See this page for some examples and links:

  
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pie_chart#Multi-level_Pie.2C_Radial_tree.2C_or_Ring_chart

Google also has some charting tools you might find usefull:

  
http://code.google.com/apis/chart/image/docs/gallery/pie_charts.html#chart_types

Aleksey> I have a very large outline to handle (over a hundred
Aleksey> elements in all) and I need to visually represent it in a
Aleksey> (relatively) compact way that will clearly show the hierarchy
Aleksey> -- it's my way of tackling the depth vs. breadth problem in
Aleksey> knowledge management -- I want to be able to quickly and
Aleksey> efficiently navigate depth vs. breadth while still keeping
Aleksey> track of the big picture.

Look at philesight, it's got a nice web interface.  

Aleksey> (The specific application is in aligning goals, plans,
Aleksey> projects and tasks, but if successful this could have wider
Aleksey> application.)

What about Gantt charts?  Because projects happen over time, not just
in terms of dependencies?  

Aleksey> I don't want to hand-draw the circles, sectors, and
Aleksey> partitions of sectors, especially since the outline is
Aleksey> updated constantly and I don't want to manually redraw the
Aleksey> thing.  And I want it to look neat and sharp -- I want the
Aleksey> computer to draw it.

Aleksey> Is there something out there that will do this?

Sure, look at the links I gave.

John
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